A friend of mine telling me that he could tell no difference in my guitar playing before or after I had a major stroke that caused me to lose 90% of the movement in my hand!
No insults, just a few times the truth, though put in a somewhat rude way. Never suffered any harm from it, in the contrary, it helped me to become a better player.
Back when I was just starting to play the bass guitar for a ceilidh band, a young scot described me as "...that feckin' idiot who plays a bass like a tenor banjo!" owing to my plectrum technique.
Martin Carthy ( namedrop, namedrop ) said I smiled too much to be a good bass-player, but then he'd been working with Ashley Hutchings......
Reading all those stories on thesession.org through the years - and a tiny bit from my own experience - I have the feeling that in Ireland (probably also in Britain) they have a rough kind of humour to put things, not always necessarily meant wicked.
Could be easily understood as an insult for some one from the continent. Which leaves the fact that it is just that what is meant now and then.
This is just an idea, please contradict if you think this is pain nonsense.
Age 16. Cut my teeth playing drums with a ceili band and was now playing with a dance band on stage in my local hall. Thought I'd do a bit of showing off with a touch of 'Gene Krupa' during a particular old jazz classic number only to be shouted at by the bandleader. "It's a quickstep for Feck sake, and you're drumming it like a reel. Get a shape on yourself" My mates never let me forget it !!!
At a gig recently, a woman looked at me and said, "Oh my God, that's the smallest one I've ever seen!" She meant my button accordion, it was far more compact than the 120 bass piano accordions she was used to seeing in her youth. Still, these are words no man ever wants to hear!
>Being a dour, Scot I didn't think much of the 'You rub your >back and I'll rub mine" thread so I thought I'd start this better >one
Must be a scottish thing, as the concept of the thread made me cringe (no offence to the original poster, or anyone who posted intended).
Years (&years) ago I was busking with a whistle trying to get my busfair back home outside of a trainstation when an elderly tramp type came up to me and shouted "you are the worst f***ing busker I've ever heard!" before adding slightly sheepishly "can you lend us some cash?"
I split the takings such as they were with the guy. You should never discourage the truth after all
Aye, being a dour Scot is a pretty Scottish thing right enough ramblingpitchfork.
Insults can be most useful. The worst type are the gentle compliments that really mean 'oh dear' . I received one a few weeks ago. Doing a pub gig with a trio we had more gremlins that most of our previous gigs put together. We had lent out our amp and it came back with one broken chanel , I had taken the wrong pipes and was 15 minutes late (first time in my life for a gig), The mandola player broke a sting in the second number, a lead went nuts and caused a mad screaming noise half way through the first half and then on the last number of the first half the fiddler broke TWO strings in the first tune. It was truly terrible and we played to match. One punter as he we leaving the second the first set was over said "that was quite good". I couldn't even answer and just sat there like a muppet. He would have been much better saying 'that was totally sh*te" at least then we could have agreed with him. Anyway, it gave us a right kick in the ass.
Tourist in pub the other night: "You need to play louder." (it was hottest, most humid pub ever and the reeds were having a freak out and it's kind of a quiet chanter under the best of circumstances).
~ the hits keep coming . . .
Sorry if I am reading this wrong. It seems to be a solicitation for insults. Why ask for something which comes so easily, for so few?
It wasn't intended as an insult, I'm sure, and wasn't taken as one, but I heard this from one of the guys that leads my local session the first time that I hauled in the digital piano (after asking permission, of course) - "...can you actually play that thing? I mean, like in different keys and stuff?"
...and this from my Wedding Band days: "...don't you guys play any REAL Rock?"
...my favorite, though is still "You guys suuuuck!". Elegant and accurate.
During a two-year stay in Riga, Latvia, I used to busk regularly in a small archway, opposite which was a small market selling amber jewellery. One grey day, one of the traders approached me with a in an irascible mood and said "Can't you play something different? Why do you have to keep playing the same two tunes all day?" What made me seethe was that I made a point of never playing the same tune twice in a day - if possible, not even from one day to the next. (There were a few buskers in town who really did play the same two tunes all day, day in day out). I tried rationalising his reaction in various ways, such as: "He's just ignorant. He's lacking in any musical sensibility." or "Business is slow, he's in a bad mood and he's just looking for someone to take out his misery on."
Both of those might have been true. But the fact remains, everything I played sounded the same to him and it was annoying him. If I'd been a really good musician, my music would have lifted his mood, irrespective of how similar or dissimilar the tunes sounded.
Not wanting to admit defeat, I continued playing for a while, then packed up 'in my own time'. I attempted to clarify to the man that I *did not* repeat the same two tunes all day, that they just sounded the same to him and he didn't understand th music I was playing etc. But he was, emphatically, *not listening*. Besides, my command of Latvian was not sufficient to convey the anguish at his false accusation.
You're right about the rather caustic humour over here. It tends to come in four (at least) contexts:
1. What people say TO mates who are on the same wavelength - i.e., it's banter, not meant to be nasty...
2. What people say ABOUT others they don't care for - which is not admirable, but keeps conversations going and promotes displays of wit and feelings of superiority...
3. What people - fairly seldom, really - say TO people they dislike - which has been known to lead to fights...
4. What people SAY they SAID to people they didn't like - which may be done rather more often than 3., and is done to seem a hero to the present company.
My hunch is the English are less caustic than the Scots, but the Irish are definitely the most caustic of the lot - all of them, every age and sex, both the main religions and every conceivable other one, including atheism and don't-give-a-feckism. They've been like this throughout history. I read somewhere that in early Ireland, satirists were quite a prominent group in society. Kings presumably used or were entertained by their talents - but woe betide a king who underpaid one: he would be made a laughing-stock, and his life wouldn't be worth living.
I don't know how caustic the Welsh are. I've met so few of them. Not that I wish to put it to the test...
Nicholas, there are one or two on this site. One who might perhaps meet your requirements is presently on a voluntary (I think!) 12-month sabbatical from the membership.
Random, judging by the posts above this thread has everything to do with Irish music. It proves that everyone experiences bad gigs and sessions. And to play trad you need to have a thick enough skin to bounce off the comments of those who don't understand it.
Bogman you're the one who needs thick skin.
Apparently you have not receive any emails such as I was paraphrasing above. (i.e. - censorship=an insult to intelligence)
I have had a few of my discussions judged to be insulting by he who makes us all possible.
Your thread is grand.
I commiserate. But it is not about thick skin at all.
It's about having a better comeback. Or just playing tunes.
The best comeback!
Rook ~ ask them to play the tune *the way it goes*
I was playing at a session at the Burren in Somerville, Massachusetts when I probably shouldn't have been. Colm Gannon was there and got up to buy a round for the table . Guess who didn't get a pint. Ouch!
I was at a session and in the process of texting a mate during a break in the tunes, when an old fella, not a musician but one of those regulars who has fried most of his brain cells on booze for the past 60 years, said to me, "Young people... they never talk to each other anymore.... They just send text messages." I kind of looked askance at him and was a like, "Uh, right..." and got on with my text. He then asked me, "How do you make love in text message?"
I didn't really answer that but later (as you do) thought of about a dozen brilliant comebacks I should have answered him with.
Desi Wilkinson once told me about some young fellas who turned up at a session in Drogheda. There was a short lull in the proceedings, and one of the youngsters yelled out "Let's have another tune from the VDs !" Intrigued, Desi went up and asked what was meant by "the VDs". Answer - -"the Val Doonicans ". I won't say what happened next .
Re: What's the worst insult you've ever got and returned!
A certain elbow piper once asked me why I always play out of time.
My retort: " well, I'll just reach into my case and get my defib unit and see if we can't get your pulse started shall I ". He just looked confused while my brother nearly chocked on his lemonade.
In the southern US we have this lovely insult, "Well, bless your heart." You have to say it in the most saccharine tone you can dredge up. The translation: you f@#!ing moron.
I brought out my silver flute and my new irish flute the other day to show someone. Their question: "Are they actually meant to sound any different from each other?"
After playing an intense reel, the best I'd done in a while a woman came up to me, looked at my dulcimer and said, "Pretty dulcimer" turned on her heel and walked away. . .actually I've had that happen a lot.
Busking in the tunnel in Truro I've had a few. The two I remember best are:
1) The man who came through and just shouted "beggar" at me again and again
2) The really old man who came up to me and told me that I was terrible and that *he* was a musician, used to play the euphonium didn't I know - classical - and that I had no tune whatsoever, I was just wiggling my fingers about.
I replied simply: "I think you mean tone".
But nothing compares to the utter shame of playing a tune at the session I go to and having someone turn to me and say "You haven't practised in a while have you?"
I don't know but a horrible insult would be for the other players to tune up or down a half note making it necessary for a dulcimer player to go out to retune then when he comes back in the others take a break and retune back up to 440 making it necessary to retune. It didn't happen to me but I know the guy they did it to.
These are a sample of the constructive criticisms i've garnered on this site for having the temerity to advertise our band's CD. (Incidentally the most flak i've ever taken about my music in any context).. i'm leaving out the personal ones and concentrating just on the theme of our music being criticised.
------------------------------------------
i've accepted your invitation to check out your music. I really disliked it, but good luck with your career. I would recommend that you change the band's name.
Posted on July 21st 2009 by molaoch
Power 1 Subtlety 0 (and now back to Ray Stubbs in the studio).
Posted on July 21st 2009 by Floss the Tethers
(FOLLOWED BY My comment was not at all 'bluntly and unnecessarily negative', and that's a patently ridiculous interpretation. I'm all for 'power', in its place, and all for 'subtlety' too, in its own place. The comment was intended as a pointer... THANKS FOR THE POINTER, Flossy, but don't give uip the day job)
smashing tunes around
Oh thanks for fastracking that for us, kinda like looking into the future eh?
Posted on July 22nd 2009 by VocalDivaSteed
I listened. I yawned.
But in defense of the music I would like to add that I did not throw up. I yawned again.
Posted on July 23rd 2009 by mcknowall
technically difficult? anyone can improve over a tune with hardly playing the tune. i listening to some of that playing there, and you might as well have not played any tunes because the improvisation was so saturating that the tune was completely lost underneath! what you're doing isn't groundbreaking by any means no matter how much you big yourselves up.
Posted on July 23rd 2009 by fiddleruairi
write and post a banal tune by all means, if you can do no better
'THANKS FOR THE POINTER, Flossy, but don't give uip the day job.'
Yep, but my pointer's still in place, and my day job involves reviewing albums like yours! It's not a good idea to fire off a scattergun when you're myopic.
What's the worst insult you've ever got?
What's the worst insult you've ever got?
Being a dour, Scot I didn't think much of the 'You rub your back and I'll rub mine" thread so I thought I'd start this better one.
# Posted on April 11th 2009 by bogman
Re: What's the worst insult you've ever got?
A friend of mine telling me that he could tell no difference in my guitar playing before or after I had a major stroke that caused me to lose 90% of the movement in my hand!
# Posted on April 11th 2009 by shanty
Re: What's the worst insult you've ever got?
I know several guitar players for whom the greatest insult is "Are you sure that chord shouldn't have been an E minor?"
# Posted on April 11th 2009 by Steve Shaw
Re: What's the worst insult you've ever got?
Steve-Mine is "why don't you just play a D during this tune"
# Posted on April 11th 2009 by shanty
Re: What's the worst insult you've ever got?
The great thing with being insulted is that it tells you so much more that dafty compliments.
# Posted on April 11th 2009 by bogman
Re: What's the worst insult you've ever got?
Llig should be able to give us a master class on this one
# Posted on April 11th 2009 by Trevor Jennings
Re: What's the worst insult you've ever got?
Your accordion sounds just like a real one.
# Posted on April 11th 2009 by geoffwright
Re: What's the worst insult you've ever got?
No insults, just a few times the truth, though put in a somewhat rude way. Never suffered any harm from it, in the contrary, it helped me to become a better player.
# Posted on April 11th 2009 by Henk Bos
Re: What's the worst insult you've ever got?
Back when I was just starting to play the bass guitar for a ceilidh band, a young scot described me as "...that feckin' idiot who plays a bass like a tenor banjo!" owing to my plectrum technique.
Martin Carthy ( namedrop, namedrop ) said I smiled too much to be a good bass-player, but then he'd been working with Ashley Hutchings......
# Posted on April 11th 2009 by Guernsey Pete
Re: What's the worst insult you've ever got?
"Your accordion sounds just like a real one." that's a right cracker.
# Posted on April 11th 2009 by bogman
Re: What's the worst insult you've ever got?
Reading all those stories on thesession.org through the years - and a tiny bit from my own experience - I have the feeling that in Ireland (probably also in Britain) they have a rough kind of humour to put things, not always necessarily meant wicked.
Could be easily understood as an insult for some one from the continent. Which leaves the fact that it is just that what is meant now and then.
This is just an idea, please contradict if you think this is pain nonsense.
# Posted on April 11th 2009 by Henk Bos
Re: What's the worst insult you've ever got?
"How long have you been playing?"
Okay, not the worst but that question always makes me cringe a bit.
# Posted on April 11th 2009 by DrSilverSpear
Re: What's the worst insult you've ever got?
Hey Bogman, as you started this thread you should surely tell us about your worst insult!
# Posted on April 11th 2009 by DrSilverSpear
Re: What's the worst insult you've ever got?
plain
# Posted on April 11th 2009 by Henk Bos
Re: What's the worst insult you've ever got?
"How long have you been playing?" is pretty bad when you're in your 50s
"That was good" said a well-known player to me once "You were pants last time I heard you"
best compliment and worst insult together
# Posted on April 11th 2009 by Bren
Re: What's the worst insult you've ever got?
Age 16. Cut my teeth playing drums with a ceili band and was now playing with a dance band on stage in my local hall. Thought I'd do a bit of showing off with a touch of 'Gene Krupa' during a particular old jazz classic number only to be shouted at by the bandleader. "It's a quickstep for Feck sake, and you're drumming it like a reel. Get a shape on yourself" My mates never let me forget it !!!
# Posted on April 11th 2009 by Free Reed
Re: What's the worst insult you've ever got?
At a gig recently, a woman looked at me and said, "Oh my God, that's the smallest one I've ever seen!" She meant my button accordion, it was far more compact than the 120 bass piano accordions she was used to seeing in her youth. Still, these are words no man ever wants to hear!
# Posted on April 11th 2009 by AlBrown
Re: What's the worst insult you've ever got?
>Being a dour, Scot I didn't think much of the 'You rub your >back and I'll rub mine" thread so I thought I'd start this better >one
Must be a scottish thing, as the concept of the thread made me cringe (no offence to the original poster, or anyone who posted intended).
Years (&years) ago I was busking with a whistle trying to get my busfair back home outside of a trainstation when an elderly tramp type came up to me and shouted "you are the worst f***ing busker I've ever heard!" before adding slightly sheepishly "can you lend us some cash?"
I split the takings such as they were with the guy. You should never discourage the truth after all
- chris
# Posted on April 11th 2009 by ramblingpitchfork
Re: What's the worst insult you've ever got?
i.e. the concept of the original "compliment" thread.
over exooberant compliments never sound genuine and embaress more than anything else. Surely it is a cultural thing.
Silver Spear: "how long have you been playing?" frequently means :
"Hmmm, I'd quite fancy learning to play one of them. Wonder how long it takes to learn".
or
"I'm trying to learn myself, how long before I can expect to be as good as you"
silly though such reasoning is, it is more often than not the motivation for asking "how long have you been playing"
So, not to worry
- chris
# Posted on April 11th 2009 by ramblingpitchfork
Re: What's the worst insult you've ever got?
Aye, being a dour Scot is a pretty Scottish thing right enough ramblingpitchfork.
Insults can be most useful. The worst type are the gentle compliments that really mean 'oh dear' . I received one a few weeks ago. Doing a pub gig with a trio we had more gremlins that most of our previous gigs put together. We had lent out our amp and it came back with one broken chanel , I had taken the wrong pipes and was 15 minutes late (first time in my life for a gig), The mandola player broke a sting in the second number, a lead went nuts and caused a mad screaming noise half way through the first half and then on the last number of the first half the fiddler broke TWO strings in the first tune. It was truly terrible and we played to match. One punter as he we leaving the second the first set was over said "that was quite good". I couldn't even answer and just sat there like a muppet. He would have been much better saying 'that was totally sh*te" at least then we could have agreed with him. Anyway, it gave us a right kick in the ass.
# Posted on April 11th 2009 by bogman
Re: What's the worst insult you've ever got?
"You're sounding SO much better - MUCH more in tune than before!"
Not an insult per se, just one of many compliments that leave me wondering what a ordeal it must have been playing with me a year or so ago.
# Posted on April 11th 2009 by Tall, Dark, and Mysterious
Re: What's the worst insult you've ever got?
About 100 tunes into a great session one night a tourist said "that's really great but do you know any other songs" - (it's a tunes session).
# Posted on April 11th 2009 by bogman
Re: What's the worst insult you've ever got?
Hi
Keep your discussions pertinent to Irish music.
Bye
# Posted on April 11th 2009 by Ben Steen
Re: What's the worst insult you've ever got?
"Nice tune - but next time play something you know...."
# Posted on April 11th 2009 by Jusa Nutter Eejit
Re: What's the worst insult you've ever got?
Random alright. Bye
# Posted on April 11th 2009 by bogman
Re: What's the worst insult you've ever got?
Directed at Random Notes obviously.
# Posted on April 11th 2009 by bogman
Re: What's the worst insult you've ever got?
Being told you sound like a classical violinist is a pretty bad insult in trad circles.
# Posted on April 11th 2009 by SteelPlayer
Re: What's the worst insult you've ever got?
Tourist in pub the other night: "You need to play louder." (it was hottest, most humid pub ever and the reeds were having a freak out and it's kind of a quiet chanter under the best of circumstances).
# Posted on April 11th 2009 by DrSilverSpear
The * worst * insult?
~ the hits keep coming . . .
Sorry if I am reading this wrong. It seems to be a solicitation for insults. Why ask for something which comes so easily, for so few?
# Posted on April 11th 2009 by Ben Steen
Re: What's the worst insult you've ever got?
"What...are you....DOING?"
"I was trying to play an unobtrusive harmony."
"It was neither."
- That one's quite genuine!
# Posted on April 11th 2009 by nicholas
Re: What's the worst insult you've ever got?
It wasn't intended as an insult, I'm sure, and wasn't taken as one, but I heard this from one of the guys that leads my local session the first time that I hauled in the digital piano (after asking permission, of course) - "...can you actually play that thing? I mean, like in different keys and stuff?"
...and this from my Wedding Band days: "...don't you guys play any REAL Rock?"
...my favorite, though is still "You guys suuuuck!". Elegant and accurate.
# Posted on April 11th 2009 by tomw
Re: What's the worst insult you've ever got?
During a two-year stay in Riga, Latvia, I used to busk regularly in a small archway, opposite which was a small market selling amber jewellery. One grey day, one of the traders approached me with a in an irascible mood and said "Can't you play something different? Why do you have to keep playing the same two tunes all day?" What made me seethe was that I made a point of never playing the same tune twice in a day - if possible, not even from one day to the next. (There were a few buskers in town who really did play the same two tunes all day, day in day out). I tried rationalising his reaction in various ways, such as: "He's just ignorant. He's lacking in any musical sensibility." or "Business is slow, he's in a bad mood and he's just looking for someone to take out his misery on."
Both of those might have been true. But the fact remains, everything I played sounded the same to him and it was annoying him. If I'd been a really good musician, my music would have lifted his mood, irrespective of how similar or dissimilar the tunes sounded.
Not wanting to admit defeat, I continued playing for a while, then packed up 'in my own time'. I attempted to clarify to the man that I *did not* repeat the same two tunes all day, that they just sounded the same to him and he didn't understand th music I was playing etc. But he was, emphatically, *not listening*. Besides, my command of Latvian was not sufficient to convey the anguish at his false accusation.
I never played in that spot again.
# Posted on April 11th 2009 by CreadurMawnOrganig
Re: What's the worst insult you've ever got?
@Henk Bos:
You're right about the rather caustic humour over here. It tends to come in four (at least) contexts:
1. What people say TO mates who are on the same wavelength - i.e., it's banter, not meant to be nasty...
2. What people say ABOUT others they don't care for - which is not admirable, but keeps conversations going and promotes displays of wit and feelings of superiority...
3. What people - fairly seldom, really - say TO people they dislike - which has been known to lead to fights...
4. What people SAY they SAID to people they didn't like - which may be done rather more often than 3., and is done to seem a hero to the present company.
My hunch is the English are less caustic than the Scots, but the Irish are definitely the most caustic of the lot - all of them, every age and sex, both the main religions and every conceivable other one, including atheism and don't-give-a-feckism. They've been like this throughout history. I read somewhere that in early Ireland, satirists were quite a prominent group in society. Kings presumably used or were entertained by their talents - but woe betide a king who underpaid one: he would be made a laughing-stock, and his life wouldn't be worth living.
I don't know how caustic the Welsh are. I've met so few of them. Not that I wish to put it to the test...
# Posted on April 11th 2009 by nicholas
Re: What's the worst insult you've ever got?
Nicholas, there are one or two on this site. One who might perhaps meet your requirements is presently on a voluntary (I think!) 12-month sabbatical from the membership.
# Posted on April 11th 2009 by Trevor Jennings
Re: What's the worst insult you've ever got?
I'm more afraid of feed-back from across the water - no, you're not *all* caustic...unless you want to be...really...!!....
# Posted on April 11th 2009 by nicholas
Insult
The mustard board has me as a strong proponent of self - defense. The conversations tend to go on for centuries.
the music is great fun.
# Posted on April 11th 2009 by Ben Steen
Re: What's the worst insult you've ever got?
"You're very good on the bodhran".
# Posted on April 12th 2009 by bodhran bliss
Re: What's the worst insult you've ever got?
"That's the most boring se x I've ever had."
# Posted on April 12th 2009 by Alex Wilding
Re: What's the worst insult you've ever got?
That harmonica sounds like it's really difficult to play.
# Posted on April 12th 2009 by Steve Shaw
Re: What's the worst insult you've ever got?
Good post, nicholas. Thanks.
# Posted on April 12th 2009 by Henk Bos
Re: What's the worst insult you've ever got?
Stranger: "That's not how it goes."
Was referring to my own composition.
# Posted on April 12th 2009 by Piece
Re: What's the worst insult you've ever got?
Random, judging by the posts above this thread has everything to do with Irish music. It proves that everyone experiences bad gigs and sessions. And to play trad you need to have a thick enough skin to bounce off the comments of those who don't understand it.
# Posted on April 12th 2009 by bogman
Why so dour?
Bogman you're the one who needs thick skin.
Apparently you have not receive any emails such as I was paraphrasing above. (i.e. - censorship=an insult to intelligence)
I have had a few of my discussions judged to be insulting by he who makes us all possible.
Your thread is grand.
I commiserate. But it is not about thick skin at all.
It's about having a better comeback. Or just playing tunes.
The best comeback!
Rook ~ ask them to play the tune *the way it goes*
# Posted on April 12th 2009 by Ben Steen
Re: What's the worst insult you've ever got?
Random, sorry but I don't have the faintest idea what your on about.
# Posted on April 12th 2009 by bogman
Have you never had a thread deleted?
Sorry for being so cryptic.
All I am saying is at the end of the day I believe we each enjoy a good tune.
# Posted on April 12th 2009 by Ben Steen
Re: What's the worst insult you've ever got?
I was busking with my fiddle, playing some reels, and these heavy metal kids stopped and started headbanging (its called that, right?)
# Posted on April 12th 2009 by lantalooon
Re: What's the worst insult you've ever got?
I was playing at a session at the Burren in Somerville, Massachusetts when I probably shouldn't have been. Colm Gannon was there and got up to buy a round for the table . Guess who didn't get a pint. Ouch!
# Posted on April 12th 2009 by prestonian
Re: What's the worst insult you've ever got?
I was at a session and in the process of texting a mate during a break in the tunes, when an old fella, not a musician but one of those regulars who has fried most of his brain cells on booze for the past 60 years, said to me, "Young people... they never talk to each other anymore.... They just send text messages." I kind of looked askance at him and was a like, "Uh, right..." and got on with my text. He then asked me, "How do you make love in text message?"
I didn't really answer that but later (as you do) thought of about a dozen brilliant comebacks I should have answered him with.
# Posted on April 13th 2009 by DrSilverSpear
Re: What's the worst insult you've ever got?
Desi Wilkinson once told me about some young fellas who turned up at a session in Drogheda. There was a short lull in the proceedings, and one of the youngsters yelled out "Let's have another tune from the VDs !" Intrigued, Desi went up and asked what was meant by "the VDs". Answer - -"the Val Doonicans ". I won't say what happened next
.
# Posted on April 13th 2009 by Kenny
Re: What's the worst insult you've ever got and returned!
A certain elbow piper once asked me why I always play out of time.
My retort: " well, I'll just reach into my case and get my defib unit and see if we can't get your pulse started shall I ". He just looked confused while my brother nearly chocked on his lemonade.
# Posted on April 13th 2009 by Solidmahog
Re: What's the worst insult you've ever got?
My playing was once termed "horrible". I've had various private teachers over the years tell me:
"If that's what you played for your audition, I have to tell you, I'm not particularly impressed."
and
"You'll never make it as a performer, but if you work very hard, you might be able to make a living as a teacher."
But the best/worst was during an orchestral audition, the conductor stopped me mid-performance to ask:
"What are you doing here?"
The incredulous look on his face had me laughing inside, so I answered him:
"I just wanted to see how desperate you were for bassists."
We both had a good laugh over that. He actually told me to keep working at it, and come back next year to re-audition.
I never did, I took up Irish music instead...
# Posted on April 13th 2009 by pbassnote
Re: What's the worst insult you've ever got?
In the southern US we have this lovely insult, "Well, bless your heart." You have to say it in the most saccharine tone you can dredge up. The translation: you f@#!ing moron.
# Posted on April 14th 2009 by lastnitesfun
Re: What's the worst insult you've ever got?
I brought out my silver flute and my new irish flute the other day to show someone. Their question: "Are they actually meant to sound any different from each other?"
# Posted on April 14th 2009 by Bredna
Re: What's the worst insult you've ever got?
After playing an intense reel, the best I'd done in a while a woman came up to me, looked at my dulcimer and said, "Pretty dulcimer" turned on her heel and walked away. . .actually I've had that happen a lot.
Bless her heart.
# Posted on April 14th 2009 by jrathbun
Re: What's the worst insult you've ever got?
Busking in the tunnel in Truro I've had a few. The two I remember best are:
1) The man who came through and just shouted "beggar" at me again and again
2) The really old man who came up to me and told me that I was terrible and that *he* was a musician, used to play the euphonium didn't I know - classical - and that I had no tune whatsoever, I was just wiggling my fingers about.
I replied simply: "I think you mean tone".
But nothing compares to the utter shame of playing a tune at the session I go to and having someone turn to me and say "You haven't practised in a while have you?"
# Posted on April 14th 2009 by An Kammneves
Re: What's the worst insult you've ever got?
"Can you stop please. You're pi$$ed."
# Posted on April 14th 2009 by RockyRoader
Re: What's the worst insult you've ever got?
I don't know but a horrible insult would be for the other players to tune up or down a half note making it necessary for a dulcimer player to go out to retune then when he comes back in the others take a break and retune back up to 440 making it necessary to retune. It didn't happen to me but I know the guy they did it to.
# Posted on April 16th 2009 by jrathbun
Re: What's the worst insult you've ever got?
I get it Random notes..Bye
# Posted on April 16th 2009 by Miss Mulligan
Re: What's the worst insult you've ever got?
These are a sample of the constructive criticisms i've garnered on this site for having the temerity to advertise our band's CD. (Incidentally the most flak i've ever taken about my music in any context).. i'm leaving out the personal ones and concentrating just on the theme of our music being criticised.
------------------------------------------
i've accepted your invitation to check out your music. I really disliked it, but good luck with your career. I would recommend that you change the band's name.
Posted on July 21st 2009 by molaoch
Power 1 Subtlety 0 (and now back to Ray Stubbs in the studio).
Posted on July 21st 2009 by Floss the Tethers
(FOLLOWED BY My comment was not at all 'bluntly and unnecessarily negative', and that's a patently ridiculous interpretation. I'm all for 'power', in its place, and all for 'subtlety' too, in its own place. The comment was intended as a pointer... THANKS FOR THE POINTER, Flossy, but don't give uip the day job)
smashing tunes around
Oh thanks for fastracking that for us, kinda like looking into the future eh?
Posted on July 22nd 2009 by VocalDivaSteed
I listened. I yawned.
But in defense of the music I would like to add that I did not throw up. I yawned again.
Posted on July 23rd 2009 by mcknowall
technically difficult? anyone can improve over a tune with hardly playing the tune. i listening to some of that playing there, and you might as well have not played any tunes because the improvisation was so saturating that the tune was completely lost underneath! what you're doing isn't groundbreaking by any means no matter how much you big yourselves up.
Posted on July 23rd 2009 by fiddleruairi
write and post a banal tune by all means, if you can do no better
Posted on August 6th 2009 by mike the box
# Posted on August 6th 2009 by TheHappyCamper
Re: What's the worst insult you've ever got?
'THANKS FOR THE POINTER, Flossy, but don't give uip the day job.'
Yep, but my pointer's still in place, and my day job involves reviewing albums like yours! It's not a good idea to fire off a scattergun when you're myopic.
# Posted on August 20th 2009 by MacCruiskeen